"This is an easy choice in this race," the former New York City mayor said at a press conference in Miami before a gathering of Rubio supporters. "This is an easy choice for a Republican because he is the one candidate that we can trust to represent Republican principles in Washington and remain a Republican if he goes to Washington."

Rubio will face Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in the GOP senatorial primary in late August.

Giuliani's endorsement is among Rubio's most high profile to date, and is being seen as political payback to Crist who refused to endorse the former New York City mayor during his presidential bid two years ago.

Crist instead lent his last-minute support to Arizona Republican John McCain, who ultimately won that state's pivotal presidential primary and effectively ended Giuliani's hopes of becoming the GOP's presidential nominee.

A Mason-Dixon poll late last month showed Rubio leading Crist among Republican voters by 11 points, 48-37 percent. Fifteen percent in that survey remained undecided.

But it was almost as if Giuliani was back on the presidential campaign trail himself Monday, using much of his 10-minute endorsement speech to criticize President Obama's policies - specifically his approach to the war on terrorism.

"Let's have an America that stands up to terrorism, not an America that has ambiguity and confusion," Giuliani said. "Do we want to see people like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed tried in New York? Or Miami? Shouldn't he be tried in a military tribunal?"

"The president can't make up his mind," he continued. "Do you understand what kind of lack of leadership that shows to the rest of the world? I tried over 4,000 criminals. The easiest decision I had was where to try them."

soundoff(291 Responses)

"The easiest decision I had was where to try them." says the guy who couldn't figure out where to run in the primaries. What an idiot ......

April 5, 2010 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

Pat in IL

This man is a proven slime ball, so why listen to him? If the best he can do is slam the president with lies and unfounded opinions, then he should just be quiet.

April 5, 2010 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

Jefferson Handcock

Its interesting that this person has tried over 4000 people yet doesnt have faith in the system to bring these animals back to the very scene of the crime and put America's democratic system of laws on center stage. This person is a terriost himself, using the fate of Americans who lost their lives in this horror called 911 to advance his political career.

April 5, 2010 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |

LuckyLady

Giuliani's first wife was his cousin. He told his second wife via press conference that he was divorcing her. Wife #3 lived in the Mayor's mansion while he and his wife and two children resided there. Afterwards he moved in with a gay couple. Where were his conservative family values when all of this was happening in his life? He's such a phony. Even the NYC firefighters have abandoned this fraud! He didn't get the Republican presidential nomination, because his "values" turned them off.

April 5, 2010 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |

Brian, NJ

Read the book "Game Change". Giuliani thought he had a deal for Crist's endoresement in the FL primary, then would name Crist his running mate. Crist then waffled and went with McCain. This is pure payback, nothing more. Giuliani also tried terrorists in NYC.

April 5, 2010 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |

JJP

Giuliani why don't you go stick your head in a hole....You are not the President and never will be the President. How can you talk about anyone the way you treated you divorced wife..

April 5, 2010 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |

ANTHONY

WOW..
Criticizing the President during war time, eh Rudy?
I thought that was frowned upon?

And exactly what war on terror did you or youre at-the-time President WIN?

You also didnt have a problem with Bush trying war criminals in the US either you HYPOCRITE.

I wish there was a politician or reporter with enough balls to start calling people like him out on their lack of convictions.

Dear Rudy, sit down and shut up you fascist.

April 5, 2010 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |

witch56

who really cares what he has to say, Wasn't he another man who played around on his wife but talked family valves?

April 5, 2010 02:15 pm at 2:15 pm |

Josh

I'm not sure who thinks that Giuliani's endorsement is "political payback," but I know that they're liberal.

April 5, 2010 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

gino

Rudy Payback–that's we we call him. Creep.

April 5, 2010 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

enviroguy

Rudy: "I can name that tune in one note."

Announcer: "Rudy Giuliani, Name That Tune!"

Rudy: "TERROR!"

Of course, he only knows the one tune.

April 5, 2010 02:18 pm at 2:18 pm |

Yes...7 more months and we.....

can help Pelosi and Reid start packing.....next, Obama goes in 2012, and in 2013 we reverse everything.......

April 5, 2010 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |

Derrick

Guliani allowing the word "conservative" to even fall from his lips. If I were Rubio, I'd rather have Al Sharpton endorse my conservative credentials.

April 5, 2010 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |

Michael Pesant

"I tried over 4,000 criminals. The easiest decision I had was where to try them"
Haha, yes, in a civilian court in New York. Asinine!

April 5, 2010 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |

GODZILLA1

And how many times did he mention 9-11 in his endorsement?

April 5, 2010 02:22 pm at 2:22 pm |

Ken in NC

Latest headlines. "GIULIANI'S ENDORSEMENT GIVES THE KISS OF DEATH TO RUBIO CAMPAIGN".

Now that's news. It's bad enough he can't win the race for NY City Dog Catcher but now he goes out and wrecks the campaign of another Republican.

April 5, 2010 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |

Jim

At least he didn't specifically mention 9/11 this time.

I'm glad he found time away from his cross-dressing to make this statement. We were all worried about him after he lost his presidential bid. Why Rudy, Why?

April 5, 2010 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |

Christian

Alternative Headline: "Rubio garners adulterer's endorsement!"

April 5, 2010 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |

SurRy

"Giuliani's endorsement is among Rubio's most high profile to date...." LOL.

April 5, 2010 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |

JC

Get lost Rudy!

April 5, 2010 02:24 pm at 2:24 pm |

Bob (Illinois)

Giuliani is a thug. Who cares what he says?

April 5, 2010 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

ola

Rudy is a fool.The only resume to his name is sept 11.He was a lackluster mayor before that tragedy and he has milked it ever since.When will he explain his actions before 9/11 that greatly contributed to the death of New York"s finest,when will he explain fully his relationship to Bernie Kierk,what about the way he treated his former wife Donna Hanover and his children .You can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats his family.What a scumbag!

April 5, 2010 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

Too Funny!!!

A conservative that has been married multiple times and has no cluem how to run a city!!!!!! This man is a total joke! The republican party is a joke. I am so disgusted by thier double standards I cannot contain myself. We must come together and build this nation, not think of ways to undermine the rebuilding. It is sick and our children are seeing how they fight before there is a fight. Giuliani is a joke.

April 5, 2010 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

Anonymous

Alexander is this all you know to write about Giuliani is a no news even when his mouth is full throttle he only knows only 3 numbers 911.
Is also another wife cheater.

April 5, 2010 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

Minnesotan

Yeah, and you tried them in New York and bragged about how good the American justice system was at transperency while convicting these terrorists, you dolt!